Perfect Game-Champions Cup Stage 2 16u
11/8-11/9
Pearland, Texas
Brynn Baca
19 teams came together in Pearland, Texas at the 16u Perfect Game Champions Cup Stage 2 in a 6 game guarantee showcase style set up to show out in front of numerous college coaches from multiple different divisions and states. Despite shifting from Saturday’s heat to Sunday’s chill, the level of play remained high, producing several standout performances featured below.
olivia viamontes-(2028 Katy, TX) is a right handed hitter who plays for Texas Twelve 16u Unified. Viamontes was seeing beach balls this weekend at the plate. Viamontes sets up in a neutral stance slightly in her legs giving her the ability to get a load that gives her lots of power through her legs. She leads perfectly with her bottom hand to be able to hit all zones, then her explosive barrel gives her the power to put the softball off the fence, posting a .538 batting average throughout the weekend. Viamontes was also showing out in the outfield, showing her vocal leadership and putting her body on the line to save runs for her team.
Conlee Porter-(2029 Iola, TX) is a right handed catcher for AM Futures 16u Hildreth. Standing on the right side of the plate with a super athletic frame, Conlee uses a wide base approach. With an on time weight transfer, she is able to be on time for offspeed pitches and spray all over the field. She used an explosive leg drive to hit lasers through the strong winds on Sunday. Behind the plate, her arm strength is what stood out. Her quick transfer and positive drive through her legs had her throwing runners out by 4-5 feet. With even more strength work, this catcher will be one to watch in the years to come.
Jodi Villalobos-(2028 Hockley, TX) is an athletic, true utility for SpringSpirit Merchan 16u. Villalobos gave big leadership energy both vocal and lead by example. Showing her true athleticism, she played multiple positions in one inning going from the outfield to diving plays in the infield. Jodi was a spark for the SpringSpirit offense as well. Standing on the right side of the plate, her quiet leg lift load was able to give her power through the gaps. With a selectively, aggressive approach, she was able to find her way on base hitting almost all zones and drawing multiple walks a game. While on the bases, Villalobos was a catcher’s worst nightmare, stealing her way all the way around, always looking for the next 60 feet.
Ella Lefaive-(2029 Cedar Park, TX) is an athletic, left-handed outfielder for Corespeed 16u-Vogan. Lefaive is a force in the leadoff spot. Standing on the left side of the plate, Lefaive shows impressive bat speed being able to get to anything thrown on the inner half of the plate. Ella uses her ability to see multiple pitches for the rest of her team and finds a way to be a baserunner and an almost guaranteed run for her offense. Posting a .667 batting average on the weekend, Lefaive was a spark to CoreSpeeds offense. Ella also showed out in the outfield. Nothing was going to get through to the fence with Lefaive in the outfield, with an aggressive prepitch jump she was able to cover a massive amount of ground and backup anywhere she was needed.
Cayleigh Taylor-(2028 College Station, TX) is a right handed hitting outfielder for American Freedom Brazos Valley Gold. This girl is the definition of small but mighty. With a slightly open stance in the box and a very clear plan each at bat, Taylor does a fantastic job of keeping her hands inside the ball to hammer the right center gap. Being her team’s two-hole hitter, she is very successful in helping her team move runners and make good things happen for her offense posting a massive .583 batting average this weekend. In the outfield, she was quick to anything hit her way while showing off a cannon from right field. With strength training and as she matures as an athlete, she will be extremely fun to watch at the next level.
Evelyn Snow-(2029 College Station, TX) is a RHP for Niners Select 16u. This powerhouse proved her Ace status with a dominant performance, striking out 17 batters over 9 innings of work. She showed exceptional drive through her lower half, and her command of all four quadrants kept hitters off balance all game long. Snow’s smart use of her changeup forced plenty of weak contact and easy pop-ups for her defense. Her sharp pitch sequencing consistently set up hitters for called strikes on the inside corner. With her energy, poise, and continued growth, this talented pitcher is poised to be a true force in the circle for years to come.
Kinley Lara-(2029 Huntsville, TX) is a right handed pitcher for AM Futures 16u Hildreth. Posting the second-highest strikeout total of the weekend with 23, she exuded confidence and control every time she took the mound. Lara set the tone early in counts, pounding the zone with first-pitch strikes and immediately putting hitters on the defensive.Her ability to work the outer half effectively kept opponents reaching and produced a steady stream of swings and misses. She paired that precision with a well-timed changeup, creating tough pitch sequences that left hitters guessing all weekend long. Allowing only three runs across 11.2 innings pitched, Lara once again proved why she’s a consistent top performer. Be on the lookout for this athlete in the future.
Cylee Thomas-(2028 College Station, TX) is a force in the circle for American Freedom Brazos Valley Gold. This RHP uses her height and strength as an advantage both defensively and offensively. Averaging nearly a strikeout per inning, Cylee kept hitters off balance with a sharp, spin-heavy drop ball complemented by a well-timed off-speed pitch. Her ability to change eye levels and disrupt timing made her tough to square up, while her presence and athleticism in the circle added another layer to her defensive game. We saw lots of ground balls given to her defense to put outs in the hands of her teammates. On the other side of the ball, Thomas had serious home run power smashing balls through the strong winds on Sunday. With a little bit of development and maturing her craft in the circle, this girl will be a huge threat to any offense in the future.
Isabella Longoria-(2028 Houston, TX) is a right handed catcher who plays for Hustle STX-Aguado. This catcher is exactly who you want behind the plate for any of your pitchers. Isabella embodies the qualities every catcher needs to be successful for their team. She guides by not only her voice, but by example as well making her a true field general. With her strong arm and athletic build she shuts down the run game very well. She is a true ‘size doesn’t matter’ catcher. Not only does she lead on defense, but she leads on the offensive side too. In the box, Isabella’s compact stance and strong lower half generate explosive power, allowing her to drive the ball deep to all fields. She shows particular strength on pitches to the inner half, often sending them sailing over the left-field fence. After posting an impressive .571 batting average on the weekend, it’s no surprise she earned a spot among the top performers.